Handgun holster

ABSTRACT

A holster for carrying a handgun includes an elongated strap with a clip-on affixed to one end of the strap. The opposite end of the strap is formed as a loop. Functionally, the clip-on is used for securing the holster onto the belt of a user, and the loop is dimensioned to receive and hold the barrel of the handgun. In use, the handgun is held in the holster between the belt and the body of the user. Thus, the loop supports the handgun, and the user&#39;s belt is tightened to support and stabilize the handgun against the body of the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to holsters for carrying handguns. More particularly, the present invention pertains to handgun holsters that can be secured and positioned on a user's belt for convenient access by either a left-handed or a right-handed user. The present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for holding and stabilizing a handgun in a holster against the body of a user with the holster and the handgun positioned between a belt and the body of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are at least two primary factors to be considered when selecting an appropriate holster for carrying a particular handgun. First is the size and type of handgun to be carried. The second is the purpose for carrying the handgun (e.g. hunting, target practice, self-defense). In any case, both the handgun type and its intended use need to be considered together.

Important attributes of a holster typically include the accessibility of a handgun while it is being carried in the holster. In particular, the location of the holster on a user's body, and the presence of any constraints employed to hold the handgun in the holster, may be considerably important to the user. Further, it may also be important that the holster will facilitate its concealment while it is being carried. In all cases, it is desirable that the holster be secured and that it stabilizes the handgun as it is being carried.

In general, desirable characteristics for a handgun holster are that it be compact (i.e. not bulky), light in weight, and of sturdy construction. It may also be desirable that a same holster be versatile in that it can be conveniently and effectively used by either a left-handed person or a right-handed person. Also, it is important that a holster can be easily secured on the body of the user.

In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holster for a handgun that is compact, light in weight, easily accessible and preferably concealable. Another object of the present invention is to provide a holster for a handgun that is easy to use, is simple to manufacture and is comparatively cost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the present invention, a holster for carrying a handgun is provided. Structurally, the holster includes a strap, wherein the lower end of the strap is formed as a loop to receive and hold the barrel of the handgun. A clip-on, which is attached to the upper end of the strap, is adapted for engagement with the belt of a user.

In use, the strap is attached to the inside of a user's belt with the clip-on, and the loop on the strap hangs below the belt. The barrel of the handgun can then inserted into the loop of the holster to support the handgun between the strap hanging from the belt and the body of a user. The user's belt can be tightened to hold the handgun against the body of the user as necessary.

In detail the clip-on includes a flat base plate which is fixedly attached to the upper end of the strap. It also includes a clamping member and a restraining hinge which interconnect the clamping member with the base plate. In this combination, the clamping member is biased toward the base plate to clamp the belt between the base plate and the clamping member.

The manufacture of a holster for a handgun having a barrel and a handgrip requires the use of an L-shaped template pattern to create a workpiece. In detail, the L-shaped template pattern is dimensioned with a first segment having a length and a second segment having a length d. Both segments have a same width w, and the length d of the second segment is established to create the loop for receiving the barrel of the handgun. Specifically, in the resultant workpiece, the elongated first segment will be perpendicular to the elongated second segment. The two segments are contiguous with each other at a common connecting area.

Once the workpiece has been created, the second segment is folded to form a loop. In detail, the loop is formed when the free end of the second segment is joined with the connecting area that is located between the segments. This action also establishes the first segment of the workpiece as the strap for the holster. A clip-on is then attached onto the free end of the first segment. Thus, the strap of the holster extends from the clip-on to the loop. Preferably, the workpiece for the holster is made of a flexible material such as leather, plastic, cloth or elastomer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a holster in accordance with the present invention, with the holster shown in its intended operational environment;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of the holster;

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the holster; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a template pattern for manufacturing a holster in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a holster in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally designated 10. As intended for the present invention, the holster 10 is used to support and hold a handgun 12 (shown in phantom) against the body 14 of a user. In particular, the holster 10 is designed for use with a wide variety of handguns 12 that can be generally categorized as either revolvers or magazine loaded pistols. Moreover, with minor dimensional changes, the holster 10 can be customized and adapted for use with any sized handgun 12, in any category. In each instance, however, the handgun 12 will include a barrel 16 with a grip 18 for holding the handgun 12 and a trigger guard 20 located between the barrel 16 and the grip 18.

With reference to both FIGS. 2A and 2B, and considering them together, it will be seen that the holster 10 essentially includes a strap 22, a clip-on 24 and a loop 26. In greater detail, the clip-on 24 of the holster 10 is shown to include: a base plate 28 that is affixed to the strap 22; a clamping member 30 that overlaps the base plate 28; and a restraining hinge 32 that biases the end 34 of the clamping member 30 toward the base plate 28. With reference back to FIG. 1, it is to be appreciated that with this combination of components, the clip-on 24 is adapted for its engagement with a belt 36 of a user. Specifically, with the clip-on 24, the holster 10 is securely clamped onto the belt 36.

In order to use the holster 10, it will be appreciated by still referring to FIG. 1 that the loop 26 of the holster 10 needs to be dimensioned to receive the barrel 16 of a handgun 12. Thus, with the barrel 16 of the handgun 12 supported by the loop 26 of the holster 10, the handgun 12 can be positioned between the holster 10 and the body 14 of the user. The belt 36 can then be tightened to secure and stabilize the handgun 12 against the body 14 of the user. Also, as the belt 36 is tightened, the grip 18 of the handgun 12 will be positioned above the belt 36 to rest thereon, and to thereby further stabilize the handgun 12 as it is carried in the holster 10.

For the manufacture of a holster 10 in accordance with the present invention, it is to be appreciated that the holster 10 can be easily customized to accommodate different sized handguns 10. In particular, with reference to FIG. 3, it can be appreciated that a specifically sized template pattern 38 can be established to create a customized workpiece 40 for each particular model/type handgun 12. The material to be used for workpiece 40 will preferably be strong, durable and flexible. Preferably, the workpiece 40 is made of a material such as leather, plastic, cloth or elastomer (e.g. rubber).

When dimensioning the template pattern 38, it is important to establish lengths for the different segments of the template pattern 38 that are sufficient and appropriate for their respectively intended purposes. In detail, the length d for workpiece 40 must be sufficient to create the loop 26 with a size that will allow it to receive and hold the barrel 16 of the particular handgun 12 that is to be carried in the holster 10. Similarly, the length h of the strap 22 for holster 10 must be of sufficient length to allow the grip 18 of the handgun 12 to be positioned above the belt 36 when the handgun 12 is being carried in the holster 10. The width w of the workpiece 40 may be the same for both the loop 26 and the strap 22. Also, it is to be noted in FIG. 3 that the respective segments of workpiece 40 for loop 26 and strap 22 are joined together at a common connecting area 42.

By cross referencing FIGS. 2A and 2B with FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that an assembly of the holster 10 is straightforward. In detail, to create the loop 26 for a holster 10, the free end 44 of workpiece 40 is folded over for its engagement with the connecting area 42. Once it is properly positioned over the connecting area 42, the free end 44 can then be fixed and attached onto the connecting area 42 in a manner well known in the pertinent art, such as by riveting. Also, in like manner, the clip-on 24 can be riveted onto the free end 46 of the workpiece 40.

While the particular Handgun Holster as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holster for carrying a handgun, wherein the handgun includes a barrel, and a hand grip, the holster comprising: a strap having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the strap is formed as a loop to receive and hold the barrel of the handgun; and a clip-on attached to the upper end of the strap, wherein the clip-on is adapted for engagement with a belt of a user to orient the strap with the loop below the belt and the handgun positioned between the strap and the body of a user, and wherein the belt holds the handgun against the body of a user when the belt is tightened.
 2. The holster of claim 1 wherein the loop defines a plane and the strap defines an axis and the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the axis of the strap.
 3. The holster of claim 1 wherein the clip-on comprises: a base plate, wherein the base plate is flat and is fixedly attached to the upper end of the strap: a clamping member, wherein the clamping member has a first end and a second end; and a restraining hinge interconnecting the first end of the clamping member with the base plate to bias the second end of the clamping member toward the base plate to clamp the belt therebetween.
 4. The holster of claim 1 wherein the strap and the loop are made of a same material selected from the group consisting of leather, plastic, cloth and elastomer.
 5. The holster of claim 1 wherein the handgun is a revolver having cylinder positioned between the barrel and the handgrip.
 6. The holster of claim 5 wherein the cylinder of the revolver rests against the loop when the barrel of the handgun is inserted into the loop.
 7. The holster of claim 1 wherein the handgun is a pistol having a trigger guard.
 8. The holster of claim 7 wherein the trigger guard of the pistol rests against the loop when the barrel of the pistol is inserted into the loop.
 9. A holster for carrying a handgun, wherein the handgun includes a barrel, and a hand grip, the holster comprising: a belt, wherein the belt is adapted to be positioned around the waist of a user; a strap having a first end and a second end; a clip-on attached to the first end of the strap, wherein the clip-on is adapted for engagement with the belt to orient the strap with the second end of the strap extended downwardly from the belt; and a loop affixed to the second end of the strap to receive and stabilize the barrel of the handgun while the belt holds the handgun against the body of the user.
 10. The holster of claim 9 wherein the loop is integral with the strap.
 11. The holster of claim 9 wherein the strap and the loop are made of a same material selected from the group consisting of leather, plastic, cloth and elastomer.
 12. The holster of claim 9 wherein the strap and the loop are made of a different material and are respectively selected from the group consisting of leather, plastic, cloth and elastomer.
 13. The holster of claim 9 wherein the loop defines a plane and the strap defines an axis and the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the axis of the strap.
 14. The holster of claim 9 wherein the clip-on comprises: a base plate, wherein the base plate is flat and is fixedly attached to the first end of the strap; a clamping member, wherein the clamping member has a first end and a second end; and a restraining hinge interconnecting the first end of the clamping member with the base plate to bias the second end of the clamping member toward the base plate to clamp the belt therebetween.
 15. The holster of claim 14 wherein the handgun includes a cylinder and the cylinder of the handgun rests against the loop when the barrel of the handgun is inserted into the loop.
 16. A method for manufacturing a holster for a handgun having a barrel and a handgrip, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing an L-shaped template pattern; using the template pattern to create a workpiece, wherein the workpiece includes an elongated first segment perpendicular to an elongated second segment, and wherein the first segment is contiguous with the second segment at a common connecting area; folding the second segment to form a loop, wherein the second segment has a free end and the loop is formed with the free end of the second segment joined to the connecting area; and attaching a clip-on onto the first segment, wherein the first segment has a free end and the clip-on is fastened to the free end of the first segment to establish a strap for the holster extending from the clip-on to the loop.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the workpiece is made of a material selected from the group consisting of leather, plastic, cloth and elastomer.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the clip-on comprises: a base plate fixedly attached to the first segment; a clamping member; and a restraining hinge interconnecting the clamping member with the base plate to clamp a belt of a user therebetween.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the loop defines a plane and the strap defines an axis and the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the axis of the strap.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the L-shaped template pattern is dimensioned with the first segment having a length h, with the second segment having a length d, and with both segments having a same width w, wherein the length d of the second segment is established to create the loop for receiving the barrel of the handgun. 